Modernization of the Purchase College Microbiology Curriculum

这个项目的概念源于微生物学课程的需要。 我们将在我们的微生物学实验室增加4个新的练习，重点是在过去15年中现代微生物学实验室常用的分子技术的重大进展。 这些新练习的目的是展示现代分子微生物学实验室中现在使用的常用技术：（1）荧光显微术，用于使用荧光染料标记的寡核苷酸探针的抗体鉴定细菌，（2）蛋白质和核酸的电泳，（3）蛋白质免疫印迹法，用于蛋白质鉴定，（4）ELISA用于特异性抗原的快速鉴定筛选和（5）PCR用于扩增DNA以用于各种鉴定目的。 将使用的实验室模型基于PI使用分子微生物学诊断难养、生长缓慢的鱼类病原体鲑肾杆菌的广泛研究经验。 这种病原体非常适合在本科微生物实验室使用，因为它是一种严格的嗜冷菌，对人类无致病性。 随着微生物学实验室的现代化，我们也有机会更新我们的细胞和分子技术课程。 将对现有的一系列克隆程序进行新的练习。 特别是，我们计划在现有的一系列DNA练习的背景下向学生介绍PCR扩增。 购买大学本科生需要做两个学期的高级研究项目。 可供学生参与的研究项目的范围和概念复杂性也将大大提高。 我们的几个教师已经提出了新的设备在新的和正在进行的项目，旨在为本科生参与使用。 该项目将加强对学生的概念和技术培训。 在现代分子微生物学，细胞生物学和分子生物学中使用普通技术的直接亲和性将大大提高我们学生对研究生课程的准备，和/或进入高技术，生物技术劳动力。 *

The concept of this project grows out of curricular needs in Microbiology. We will add 4 new exercises to our Microbiology laboratory which will focus on the major advances that have occurred in molecular techniques commonly used in modern Microbiology laboratories during the past 15 years. The purpose of these new exercises is to demonstrate the common techniques that are now used in modern molecular Microbiology laboratories: (1) fluorescence microscopy for identification of bacteria using either antibody of oligonucleotide probes labeled with fluorescent dyes, (2) electrophoresis of proteins and nucleic acids, (3) Western immunoblotting for protein identification, (4) ELISA for quick identification screening of specific antigens and (5) PCR for amplification of DNA for various identification purposes. The laboratory model which will be used based upon the PI's extensive research experience using molecular Microbiology for the diagnosis of the fastidious, slow growing fish pathogen, Renibacterium salmoninarum. This pathogen is excellent for use in the undergraduate Microbiology laboratory because it is a strict psychrophile, and is nonpathogenic to humans. With the modernization of the Microbiology laboratory, we also have the opportunity to update our Cellular and Molecular Techniques course. A new exercise will be introduced to the existing series of cloning procedures. In particular, we plan to introduce students to PCR amplification in the context of the existing series of DNA exercises. Purchase College undergraduates are required to do a two semester Senior Research Project. The scope and conceptual sophistication of research projects available for student participation will also be considerably enhanced. Several of our faculty have proposed use of the new equipment in new and ongoing projects designed for undergraduate student participation. This project will enhance the conceptual as well as the technical training of students. The use of direct f amiliarity with common techniques in modern Molecular Microbiology, Cell Biology, and Molecular Biology will greatly improve our student's preparedness for graduate programs, and/or for entering a highly technical, biotechnology workforce. *